Illinois vs. Nebraska Picks, Predictions College Football Week 9: Huskers’ Big Ten West Dreams Set to Perish?
Nebraska could move into a tie for first place in the Big Ten West with a Week 9 win over rival and 18th-ranked Illinois. Check out our top Illinois-Nebraska picks.
Nebraska football appeared dead in the water when it fired Scott Frost after Week 2. But with a win over Illinois Saturday, the Huskers would equal both Illinois and Purdue in the B1G West standings.
Here are our top college football picks for Illinois-Nebraska (odds via BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Check out all of our top college football picks for Week 9, as well as our best bets.
Illinois vs. Nebraska Odds
Illinois vs. Nebraska Picks
Illinois vs. Nebraska ATS Pick
Illinois -7.5 (-105) ★★★★
Illinois’ 238.8 yards of total offense allowed per game leads the nation. As does its defensive scoring average at 10.8 points per game. Regardless of a couple of quality offensive showings in recent weeks, Nebraska’s underwhelming 72nd-ranked offensive efficiency is about to run into a brick wall.
Conversely, Nebraska has one of the worst run defenses in college football this season, allowing 193.0 yards per game on the ground. Led by Chase Brown, Illinois ranks 19th in rushing in FBS. Why isn’t this a double-digit spread?
Illinois vs. Nebraska O/U Pick
Under 50.5 (-110) ★★★★
Six of seven Nebraska games have cleared this total. Two Huskers games, including their most recent, saw 80-plus points. It simply does not matter.
Illinois is a completely different animal. It has not had a game total come anywhere close to this line this season; the highest total it has seen was 44 points. That’s because of its ridiculous defense which has allowed five touchdowns across seven games this season.
Illinois vs. Nebraska Prop Pick
Nebraska team total Under 20.5 (-113) ★★★★
Nebraska has piled up gaudy point totals a couple of times this season, but never against a defense like this one. For FPI to rank the Illinois defense at No. 5 in efficiency is almost a disservice.
Nebraska is more effective through the air, racking up 282.2 passing yards per game (26th in FBS), but even that aspect of this matchup won’t be an advantage against Illinois’ fifth-ranked passing defense.
Where to Bet on Illinois vs. Nebraska Picks
Check out our top-rated sportsbooks:
Illinois-Nebraska picks made 10/27/2022 at 3:38 p.m. ET.
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